Ordered a Prius V just before the Tsunami

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by batie, Apr 19, 2011.

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  1. batie

    batie Junior Member

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    Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    I ordered a 2011 Prius Five with navigation only (no ATP) from a dealer in the New York city area on March 2nd, just 9 days before the tsunami hit Japan.
    I negotiated a price at dealer invoice cost, signed the order and put down a $2K deposit, i was told at the time that it will take 4-6 weeks to have the car.
    Today i stopped by the dealership on my way from work and spoke to the sales manager. I was told that Toyota is not providing any information to dealers on when any car ordered will go on production or be allocated to the dealership. He said they are all in the blank as what is going to happen. He mentioned that Toyota is still producing Priis at their Japan plants at reduce capacity. But he has no idea if they will receive any Prius soon or how many. He told me that i may have to wait up to 6 months. He referred to a similar situation (sans tsunami) that happened in 2008 and Prius customers have to wait for 11 months.

    Question: What is the process from the time the order is take in?
    Anyone in the same situation?
    Thanks
     
    #1 batie, Apr 19, 2011
  2. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    The Region orders the cars from Toyota then allocates them to their dealers. The best your dealer could do is to get the car you want steered to them sooner rather than later. Someday a Five-Nav will be delivered to your dealer. Maybe it has your colors. Maybe it picked up some PIO (Port Installed Options). You may be offered the "next" one. In 2006 I was downsold & bought the package 3 instead of waiting another 3 months or so.
     
    #2 JimN, Apr 19, 2011
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  3. batie

    batie Junior Member

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    thanks for your input
    what steps the dealer should overtake to steer the one i want to them?
     
    #3 batie, Apr 19, 2011
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can you get a refund and purchase something off the lot?
     
    #4 bisco, Apr 19, 2011
  5. batie

    batie Junior Member

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five (Few days before Tsunami)

    They are sold out and currently have 0 prius in stock.
    Refund? i don't mind waiting few more weeks if i have any indication that i will have the car i want (Prius Five + Nav).
    i ordered a winter gray with dark gray interior. I think from what i have seen in lots while shopping that it is a pretty common color combination.
    the only thing that made it a special order was that the NY region only offers as standard the Prius Five with Nav and ATP and since i didn't want the ATP feature, the dealer put the order in (i was told).
    _______________________
    1987 Renault 5
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    1992 VW Sirrocco (totalled)
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    1997 Ford Bronco I
    2000 Jeep Cherokee
    2004 Chevy Tahoe (totalled)
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    2007 Toyota tundra
    2011 Prius Five "candidate"
     
    #5 batie, Apr 19, 2011
  6. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    As pointed out in another post, customers & dealers don't order cars from Toyota--the regions do, and then allocate cars to dealers. Dealers can request a certain configuration (call preferencing), with the hope that your specific configuration will come in sooner than just by random luck. Bad news is with the current situation in Japan, Toyota recently stopped this practice, at least according to a recent thread here.
     
    #6 stream, Apr 19, 2011
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    A typical factory order in Canada takes about a month if the car is already in production (depending on which stage of production) or two months if the car doesn't even have an RFID tag yet Of course, it also depends if you're on the west or east coast. Add at least 2 weeks or more for the east coast as it has to ship by train.

    Hopefully that'll give you some idea. I realise that the US operates differently.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Apr 19, 2011
  8. Unlimited_MPG

    Unlimited_MPG Member

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    I'm in the same situation as you. I also order a Prius Five w/ ATP back in February. I'm in no hurry, but now I'm considering canceling my "special request" and registering for the Plug-In Prius this Friday.
     
    #8 Unlimited_MPG, Apr 20, 2011
  9. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

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    Life (and business deals) is a matter of timing. Unfortunately one rarely has control of all the major factors when entering into a business deal. My wife and I were planning on buying a Prius in May or June of this year. Two months ago gas prices started to climb (due to political instability in the middle east) then the tsunami hit. We immediately recognized a very narrow (time) window of opportunity to buy a Prius while there was a large inventory and we still had some latitude for negotiation. Three weeks ago, we bought our Prius (and got what we wanted).

    Unfortunately, now if you want a specific model with must-have options; then you will probably have to wait until production (and distribution) is back to normal.

    Good Luck,

    Keith
     
    #9 Tech_Guy, Apr 20, 2011
  10. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    I have not seen a V on any dealer lot in a year in my area.
     
    #10 ETP, Apr 20, 2011
  11. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    You may want to consider waiting for the car that you ordered and put a deposit on. From what you posted, you got a heckuva good deal. It's just possible that the dealer is hoping that you will re-negotiate. I haven't heard of many Prius buyers in the last few weeks getting a car at "dealer invoice cost."

    Just a thought....:cool:
     
    #11 ETC(SS), Apr 20, 2011
  12. zdenok

    zdenok Junior Member

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    I've ordered in January but since the ordering is made differently over here you either want a configuration that can be allocated by your regional distributor ot you can place an order that the distributor will place directly to manufacturer's ordering system and it will provide you with estimated delivery date within 6 months from the date of order.
    As I wanted Premium with ATP in Barcelona Red mine was the second case. Original date of delivery provided was May 21st at regional distributor + 10 days to get it to dealer and install options. Now I've got new info from the dealer that the date changed in the system to July 1st :hurt:
    I awaited that it will not be here in May after those catastrophes that struck Japan so hard but I did not expect that it will be 41 days later when they stopped the production only for 2 weeks.
     
    #12 zdenok, Apr 20, 2011
  13. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    I agree with the Chief. You are going to pay WAAAY more if you try to change...well worth the wait.
     
    #13 billnchristy, Apr 20, 2011
  14. batie

    batie Junior Member

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    I have no intention of cancelling this order. i know that getting it a dealer invoice then look like a great deal now that the Prius are becoming scarce and the prices over sticker.
    The dealer mentioned yesterday that it will take at least a year or more to see such price for the package i got. unless unforeseen circumstances, I am planning to wait firmly until i receive a call for a delivery date. But he couldn't tell me if i will have to pay on top of the March's negotiated price the $470 increase Toyota is scheduling for after-May production.
     
    #14 batie, Apr 20, 2011
  15. ozarkgolfer

    ozarkgolfer Junior Member

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    If and when 'your' Prius arrives and another buyer is close at hand, ready and able to pay more than your offer, dollars to donuts, 'your' Prius will be sold out from under you.
     
    #15 ozarkgolfer, Apr 20, 2011
  16. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five (Few days before Tsunami)

     
    #16 JimN, Apr 20, 2011
  17. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    The contract you signed contains a clause that manufacturer price increases are the buyer's responsibility.
     
    #17 JimN, Apr 20, 2011
  18. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    Your original post said your order was at "dealer invoice cost." Is there a sales price dollar amount on the order, or does it just say at dealer invoice cost? What does the order language say, if anything regarding manufacturer price increases??
     
    #18 stream, Apr 20, 2011
  19. batie

    batie Junior Member

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    Re: Ordered a Prius Five ( few days before the Tsunami)

    Price negotiated (unit Price) is $29,252 which include 5 set floor mats + TTL. The fine prints don't say anything about manufacturer price increases or dealer increases. the contract stipulates that the only additional cost that will eventually incur is the DMV fees (if State decides to increase them)
     
    #19 batie, Apr 21, 2011
  20. samsprius1

    samsprius1 Active Member

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    #20 samsprius1, Apr 22, 2011
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